Tame Your Startup Programs and Get a Faster Boot
Each time you install software, there is a chance it adds itself to the list of programs that start with Windows. Over the years that list grows, and your computer takes longer to become usable.
Open the startup list
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then choose the Startup apps tab. Windows shows each item and a rating of its impact: low, medium or high.
Decide what to turn off
Good candidates to disable:
- Chat and game launchers you only use now and then.
- Music, cloud and update helpers that you can open by hand.
- Printer tools and manufacturer utilities you never touch.
Leave these alone:
- Your security software.
- Touchpad, audio and graphics drivers.
- Anything you do not recognise until you have searched its name.
Disabling an item does not uninstall it. You can switch it back on at any time.
Check the settings page too
Open Settings, then Apps, then Startup. It offers a simple on and off switch for each program, which is easier for beginners.
Look at background activity
Some programs keep working after you close them. In Task Manager, sort the Processes tab by memory and disk use and notice what sits at the top when you are not doing anything.
Measure the result
Restart the computer and note how long it takes before you can work comfortably. Compare it with before. Make one or two changes at a time so you know what helped.
Keep it that way
When you install new software, watch for options like "launch at start-up" and untick them unless you want that behaviour. Review the list every few months.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Menus, features and prices change between versions and regions. See our disclaimer.